Plastic anchor assembly



PLASTIC ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I 9 kv & Y Kay/very C i/OH YSO Y T E15104 QALQMJ Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 y 2, 1967 K. c. JOHNSON 3,316,798

PLASTIC ANCHOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

T Ella- BY @mvmtbmsw United States Patent Ofifice 3,316,798 Patented May 2, 1967 3,316,798 PLASTIC ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Kenneth C. Johnson, 9 Crabapple Lane, Commaclr, N.Y. 11725 Continuation of application Ser. No. 414,390, Nov. 27, 1964. This application Mar. 18, 1965, her. No. 440,770 2 Claims. (Cl. 8584) This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 414,390 filed on Nov. 27, 1964, and entitled, Fastening Device, which is now abandoned.

This invention relates to anchor type fastening means having an anchor member inserted in an opening of a supporting member and -a bolt-like member extending into the anchor member and expanding the anchor member for locking the fastening means in place.

An object of this invention is to provide an anchor type fastening means having the bolt-like member which may be driven into locking relation with the anchor member solely by an axial force. Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved anchor type fastening mechanism which is particularly adapted to be used for aflixing articles to sheet-like materials, such as sheet metal or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved anchor member which may be used to afiix decorative moldings to sheet-like materials; for example, automobile moldings to automobile bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor type fastening means that is inexpensive to manufacture and can be assembled into a tight holding relation without tools.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective sectional view of the fastening means with the bolt-like member in position for insertion into the anchor member;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the bolt-like member and anchor member secured together;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the anchor member;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the anchor member taken along lines 4 l of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional View of the bolt-like member and anchor member secured together;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the anchor member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the anchor member;

FIG, 8 is a sectional view of the modified anchor member taken along lines 8-3 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the modified anchor member taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of the flange end of the modified anchor member;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a partial insertion of the bolt-like member into the anchor member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the modified anchor member having two slits; and

FIG. 13 is a flange end view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a supporting wall 19 and a supported article 11 having openings 12 and 13 for receiving the fastening device or means 14. The fastening device 14 comprises an anchor member 15 p0sitioned in the opening 12 for receipt of the bolt-like member 16 to secure the article 11 to the supporting wall 10.

In the drawings member 16 is illustrated as having a threaded shank 26 and a head 27. Furthermore the article 11 to be fastened to the supporting wall 10 is illustrated in the drawings as having an opening 13 and as being held in place along the body 10 by the head 27 of the bolt-like member 16. It will, of course, be understood that the article 11 may also be a decorative molding in which event when held in place by the member 16, the head 27 would not be exposed but would be hidden beneath the molding.

Although the supporting wall 10 is preferably a sheetlike material which may be metal, it will be understood that the supporting wall 10 may also be a thicker material such as wood, sheet rock and the like.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the anchor member 15 comprises a cylindrical body portion 17 and a flange or flange means 18 extending laterally or radially from the body portion 17. The body portion 17 has a cylindrical wall 19 forming the bore 20 and an end portion 21 forming a bottom wall 22 to the bore 20. In this embodiment the body portion 17 is divided by a slit 23 forming facing gripping surfaces 24 and 25 normally in adjacent contacting relation.

The bolt-like member 16 has a serrated shank 26 and a head 27. The bolt-like member 16 may also be a decorative mold or similar device in which event the head 27 will be a decorative piece. The serrated shank 26 has an outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the bore 211 so that the shank readily fits therein. The serrations 28 may be in the form of helical threads or of teeth to produce a gripping irregularity on the surface of the shank.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the anchor member is positioned in the opening 12 with the flange 18 bearing against the supporting member 111 to limit the penetration of the body portion through the opening 12 and to hold the anchor member in position on insertion of the bolt-like member. The bolt-like member 15 is then inserted through an opening 13 in the article 11 and fitted into the bore 20. The bolt-like member 16 is preferably driven into securing position solely by axial forces on the head 27, such as driving a nail. The shank spreads the body portion into a generally wedge-shaped configuration with a diameter greater than the opening 12, clamping the anchor member on the supporting member 19 between the expanded body portion 17 and the flange 18.

The end portion has a substantial axial width, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, and in this particular embodiment is approximately one-third of the axial length of the body portion. The bore 20 has an axial depth of approximately two-thirds the axial length of the body portion. The anchor member is made of a deformable resilient material, such as a plastic of the polyethylene or polypropylene type. However, any resilient material such as nylon, Teflon or lead may also be used. On driving the bolt-like member into fastening position, the wall 19 is driven against a supporting member 10 and the serrations 28 on the shank 26 are engaged by the facing surfaces 24 and 25 of the bottom 22 which become embedded in the serrations 28 to interlock the separated end portion and the bolt-like member. In addition, it will be noted that the rear areas 19a of the walls 19, adjacent the flange 18 also move inwardly and become embedded in the threads or serrated edges of the bolt-like member 16. The wedging of areas 19a aids in holding the bolt-like member 16 in place and cooperates with the forward gripping edges 24 and 25 to securely lock the bolt-like member 16 in place and prevent it from being pulled out. Any axial force tending to dis lodge or extract the bolt-like member 16 forces the serrations against the facing surfaces 24 and 25 which cause them to pivot inwardly and to cause a wedging and compression of the body portion against the supporting member 10.

By spreading the walls 17 outwardly, pressure is applied between the body a firm clamping portion 17 and the head 27 to securely hold the article 11 on the supporting wall 10. There is no holding contact between the shank and the anchor member except for the interengagement of the body portion and shank as described.

Thus the full axial pressure is applied on the opposite side of the supporting member from the head 27. Further, the engagement of the shank and the end portion is well inside of the supporting member 10 so that a firm leverage is produced on the spreading of the body portion against the supporting member 10.

The anchor member may have other forms, such as illustrated in FIG. 6 in which, instead of a slit 23, a hole 29 may be provided through the end portion. The hole 29 is of substantially smaller diameter than the shank 26 and permits the penetration and spreading of the body portion as described. The anchor member may also be of a rectangular or square shape and the flange 18 may be made in various configurations.

In FIGS. 7 to 11 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which the anchor member 30, similar to anchor member 15, has a flange 31 and a body portion 32 with a cylindrical wall 33 forming a bore 34 and with an end portion 35. The end portion forms a bottom wall to the bore. As in the anchor member 15, the body portion 32 has a slit 36. The slit 36, however, does not terminate at the flange 31 but extends through the flange to form grooves 37, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Thus the slit extends the entire length of the anchor member. This extension of the slit improves the securing qualities of the anchor member. The body is divided into two separate pieces held together by the flange 31. As illustrated in FIG. 11 this permits a wider deflection of the two halves of the body portion on insertion of the bolt-like member 38, and a tighter wedging action against the supporting wall 39 to which the article 40 is attached.

In FIGS. 12 and 13 a modification of the anchor member is illustrated in which a second slit 41 is formed in the body portion and extending the full length of the anchor member, as best illustrated in FIG. 13. This divides the body portion into quarters and forms grooves 42 corresponding to the grooves 37.

The fastening means has many advantageous features. A secure and firm coupling of the bolt-like member and the anchor member may be obtained by hand-pressing of the bolt-like member into the anchor member. This firm coupling does not loosen on vibration of the parts and, since the anchor member may be made of plastic material, it is rustp-roof. A particularly advantageous use of the fastening device is the securing of decorative moldings to walls, such as automobile molding to automobile bodies. The ease and rapidity of securing the bolt-like member and the anchor member together with out tools shortens the time for assembling knock-down units or for the initial assembling of items made of sheet metal in a factory. The anchor member is made by conventional molding techniques and the bolt-like member may be a serrated nail or a threaded bolt.

Furthermore, the anchor member may be made in various sizes to fit into various size openings. In addition, it can be lengthened for use on thicker walls, such as sheet rock, etc.

The invention set forth in the foregoing embodiments is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastening assembly for supporting an article in a supporting member having an opening therethrough comprising a bolt-like member having a serrated shank adapted to extend through said opening, an anchor member of deformable resilient plastic material having a body portion for insertion through the opening in the supporting member and a thin flange integral with and extending laterally from and perpendicularly to said body portion for initially retaining the anchor member in position, said body portion comprising a substantially thin, straight, cylindrical side wall portion extending around the axis of the body portion to form a bore having an inner surface and an end portion forming a bottom wall to said bore, said inner surface being substantially perpendicular to said flange, the axial length of said body portion being substantially greater than the axial thickness of said flange, the axial length of said body portion being greater than the axial thickness of said end portion, said bore extending about two-thirds the length of the body portion and the end portion extending axially about one-third the length of the body portion, a slit in said end portion forming opposed gripping surfaces substantially perpendicular to said flange and parallel to said inner surface, said slit extending throughout the length of said body portion to permit the wall portion to bend outwardly, the area of said bottom wall immediately adjacent said gripping surfaces being substantially parallel to said flange and substantially perpendicular to said gripping surfaces, the diameter of said serrated shank being smaller than the diameter of said bore and axially passing through said bore and between the gripping surfaces in the end portion to expand the end portion and bend the wall portion of the body portion radially a distance greater than the opening in the supporting member to cause a substantial portion of the inner surface of said wall portion to be spaced from said shank, the gripping surfaces only of said end portion being adapted to grip the serrated shank of the bolt-like member and be the initial contact between the body portion of said anchor member and the bolt-like member whereby the circumferential area of the bore adjacent the flange moves inwardly and becomes embedded in the serrated shank of the bolt-like member to aid in holding the bolt-like member securely in place.

2. A fastening assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slit extends throughout the length of the body portion and said flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 998,781 7/1911 Kobert 84 2,207,476 7/ 1940 Bernstein 85-83 2,259,720 10/ 1941 Amesbury 8580 2,333,277 11/1943 Swank 85-84 2,877,682 3/ 1959 Barry et al. 8584 3,022,701 2/ 1962 Potruch 8583 3,105,407 10/ 1963 Rapata 85-84 3,188,905 6/ 1965 Millet 85-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,094,738 12/ 1954 France.

845,205 8/ 1960 Great Britain.

935,761 9/1963 Great Britain.

297,661 6/ 1954 Switzerland.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

M. PARSONS, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FASTENING ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE IN A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH COMPRISING A BOLT-LIKE MEMBER HAVING A SERRATED SHANK ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID OPENING, AN ANCHOR MEMBER OF DEFORMABLE RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A BODY PORTION FOR INSERTION THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE SUPPORTING MEMBER AND A THIN FLANGE INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM AND PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID BODY PORTION FOR INITIALLY RETAINING THE ANCHOR MEMBER IN POSITION, SAID BODY PORTION COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY THIN, STRAIGHT, CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL PORTION EXTENDING AROUND THE AXIS OF THE BODY PORTION TO FORM A BORE HAVING AN INNER SURFACE AND AN END PORTION FORMING A BOTTOM WALL TO SAID BORE, SAID INNER SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLANGE, THE AXIAL LENGTH OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE AXIAL THICKNESS OF SAID FLANGE, THE AXIAL LENGTH OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING GREATER THAN THE AXIAL THICKNESS OF SAID END PORTION, SAID BORE EXTENDING ABOUT TWO-THIRDS THE LENGTH OF THE BODY PORTION AND THE END PORTION EXTENDING AXIALLY ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE LENGTH OF THE BODY PORTION, A SLIT IN SAID END PORTION FORMING OPPOSED GRIPPING SURFACES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLANGE AND PARALLEL TO SAID INNER SURFACE, SAID SLIT EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID BODY PORTION TO PERMIT THE WALL PORTION TO BEND OUTWARDLY, THE AREA OF SAID BOTTOM WALL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID GRIPPING SURFACES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FLANGE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID GRIPPING SURFACES, THE DIAMETER OF SAID SERRATED SHANK BEING SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BORE AND AXIALLY PASSING THROUGH SAID BORE AND BETWEEN THE GRIPPING SURFACES IN THE END PORTION TO EXPAND THE END PORTION AND BEND THE WALL PORTION OF THE BODY PORTION RADIALLY A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE OPENING IN THE SUPPORTING MEMBER TO CAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID WALL PORTION TO BE SPACED FROM SAID SHANK, THE GRIPPING SURFACES ONLY OF SAID END PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO GRIP THE SERRATED SHANK OF THE BOLT-LIKE MEMBER AND BE THE INITIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE BODY PORTION OF SAID ANCHOR MEMBER AND THE BOLT-LIKE MEMBER WHEREBY THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL AREA OF THE BORE ADJACENT THE FLANGE MOVES INWARDLY AND BECOMES EMBEDDED IN THE SERRATED SHANK OF THE BOLT-LIKE MEMBER TO AID IN HOLDING THE BOLT-LIKE MEMBER SECURELY IN PLACE. 